### H. Formulation of the Waste Recycling Governance Guidelines

The “Waste Recycling Governance Guidelines for Waste Generating Companies” were formulated in September 2004 by the Industrial Structure Council, in order to have the wasted-discharging enterprises implement thorough waste management, and to promote voluntary efforts for conducting waste and recycling management from the managerial viewpoint. In FY 2005, efforts were made to promote the proper treatment of waste and recycling by businesses, through means such as the holding of briefing sessions for various trade associations, human resources development assistance within medium and small-sized businesses and seminars, toward the popularization of the Waste Recycling Governance Guidelines. In addition, research with the aim to review the Waste Recycling Governance Guidelines was implemented in FY 2008, due to the fact that the social responsibility required of businesses concerning social/economic/environmental aspects have been changing.

### I. Revision of the Guideline for Waste Treatment and Recycling by item/industry

The Guideline for Waste Treatment and Recycling by item/industry was formulated in 1990 for each item/industry, with the aim to promote voluntary efforts by business operators concerning the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). In the revision made in FY 2006, efforts concerning useful metals (including rare metals) for three items and four industries were included, along with new target values toward the reduction of paper (paper containers and packages, cardboard containers and packages, beverage containers and packages), glass bottles, steel cans, aluminum cans, plastics (plastic bottles, plastic containers and packages), accompanying the revision of the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law.

### J. Acceleration of biomass utilization

Fostering of national understanding through means such as information provision and holding of various briefing sessions, support in the formulation of the biomass town concept, and support in improving the biomass utilization facilities utilizing new technologies were implemented, based on the new “Biomass Nippon Strategy” decided by the Council in March 2006. Particularly where the promotion of biofuel utilization is concerned, approaches were made toward the efficient enforcement of the Act on Promotion of Utilization of Organic Resources Originated from Agriculture, Forestry or Fisheries as Materials for Biomass Fuels newly put into effect in October 2008, and support was provided for cooperative efforts by agriculture/forestry/fishery workers and biofuel manufacturers. Also, a project aiming at the establishment of an effective technology for producing biofuels using soft cellulose materials such as rice straw, which can also serve as a food supply, has been launched.

As for the acceleration of biomass towns, support has been provided for the concept formulation and its realization, and 197 municipalities have issued their biomass town concept as of the end of March, 2009.

Apart from this, cyclical use of resources through the recycling of shells which are seafood processing by-products has been promoted.

Also, in the Agricultural Community Effluent Treatment Program, volume reduction of excess sludge has been promoted according to the actual situation of the region, along with promoting recycling through means such as compost creation and the utilization of construction materials, concerning the sludge generated in the treatment process.

### K. Collection of rare metals from used small household appliances and the Advanced

Disposal Promotion Project

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment have set up a “Study Group for Collecting Rare Metals from Used Small Household Appliances and Implementing Proper Treatment” in December 2008, have grasped the status of rare metal contents regarding the collected used small household appliances, implemented toxicity assessment concerning the recycling of used small household appliances, and considered the matter of proper treatment, along with considering the efficient and effective recovery method in cooperation with the local governments who have more experience in collecting used small household appliances, with the aim to construct a proper and effective recycling system for rare metals.

### Section 5. Creation of an International Sound Material-Cycle Society

### A. Promotion of the 3R Initiative in G8 countries

G8 Environment Ministers Meeting had been held in Kobe in May 2008, and the 3Rs were adopted as the major agenda. Through discussions among the ministers of the participating countries, it was confirmed that the international efforts concerning the 3Rs are progressing since the “3Rs Initiative” had been proposed in the G8 summit in 2004, and the “Kobe 3Rs Action Plan”, where concrete actions to be taken by each of the G8 countries toward the further promotion of the 3Rs were listed and agreed. This plan was also supported by the leaders of G8 countries in the Lake Toya G8 summit, which was held alongside Lake Toya in Hokkaido, in July 2008.

Hence, based on this action plan, each of the G8 countries agreed to participate in efforts for reducing disposable goods such as plastic grocery bags, setting targets considering resource productivity, accepting hazardous wastes from developing countries, and supporting the capacity building of developing countries. Particularly, where the reduction of plastic grocery bags are concerned, Japan, China and Korea collaborated in encouraging the countries of Asia and the whole world to participate in the same effort, since all of these three countries were to take measures to address the issue.

Also, “Japan’s New Action Plan towards a Global Zero Waste Society” was presented during the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting, where international efforts to be promoted toward the establishment of a Sound Material-Cycle Society in